A man suspected of hiring gangsters to kill an Embu businessman and his wife a week ago has been arrested, bringing to six the number of suspects in police custody.
Matatu driver Michael Gitonga is suspected to have hired the killers of Joseph Gitonga and his wife Caroline Kaari after locking their two daughters in a room at their Kathakame village home near Kithimu market.
The 48-year-old man, who operates between Embu town and Kithimu market, was arrested in his Kithimu home.
Police are investigating claims that the suspect had sold a defective engine to the deceased. The buyer then demanded either a replacement or a refund of the cash.
The other suspects are Kelvin Gitonga, Boniface Gitonga, Joseph Ndwiga, Dennis Munene and David Kinyua.
The couple was murdered on Tuesday night. Kaari, 30, was killed before her 35-year-old husband arrived home.
Area chief Albert Njiru said the killers tied the wife with ropes before locking up the children aged 10 and 6 in a separate room.
They hid the body under the matrimonial bed and waited for the husband who operates a video show business at Kithimu market.
The husband was hacked to death on arrival.
Embu County Police Commander Daniel Rukunga said, “When the robbers entered the house they asked for money and when the wife said she had none they clobbered her. When the man arrived they also beat him up, fatally injuring him.”
The children were unhurt. The killer stole a TV set, a DVD player and a cooking gas cylinder.
